People over 6’5” looking to cycle off-road often find it difficult to choose the best mountain bikes for tall people. For a start, most bike shops don’t stock XXL frame sizes in either 21” or 23” and most well-known brands like Trek, Specialized or Kona only offer extra large frame sizes in selected models.
While choices may be more limited if you are very tall, the good news is that there are, nevertheless, plenty of options. This article looks at some of the choices to consider.
Bikes for Large Men – 29er Bikes
While an extra large frame size is a given if you are 6’5” or more, one of the key considerations is also the bike’s wheel size. The 29er bikes, with bigger 29” as opposed to standard 26” wheels, offer greater stability and a smoother ride plus better design options for larger frame sizes than merely elongating the tubing.
As many tall guys feel even bigger when sat on a standard 26” wheel bike, the wide choice now available in 29er models is good news when looking for big bikes for big men. Trek, in particular, now offer nine different 29er mountain bike models in the Gary Fisher collection, most in frame sizes up to 23” such as the full suspension Rumblefish or the Mamba hardtail.
Upgrading a 21” Frame Size for a Big Man
If it’s difficult to find a 23” frame in a brand that fits perfectly as bike geometry differs by brand, another option is to upgrade a smaller 21” or even a 19” frame size; a good choice if you want to customize your bike in store as opposed to ordering a larger frame and hoping it fits correctly. Parts to consider upgrading include:
- Longer seat post – for longer than average leg length.
- Longer stem – to give extra reach for those with super long arms.
- Bigger stronger wheels – either opt for 29” wheels and/or strengthen the wheel spokes as tall guys tend to be heavier than average.
- Longer cranks – usually done in conjunction with bigger wheels.
If customization doesn’t result in a good fit either, then it may be time to consider a custom build.
Custom Bikes for Tall Men and Women
Lennard Zinn, author of the highly acclaimed Zinn and the Art of Mountain Bike Maintenance book, is 6’6” and has been building bikes for almost 30 years. He believes that tall men and women need specialist custom bikes rather than just a bike designed for the average-sized rider but with longer tubing. Why? Because in his view, tubes that have simply been made longer run the risk of quicker metal fatigue and the heavier weight of a tall rider can make such a frame less rigid.
In addition, tall people need a bike with a strong steel frame and big wheels and cranks, preferably custom made, in order to eliminate what Zinn calls the “death wobble” or front end shimmy that affects tall cyclists. It was one of the main reasons he started building bikes and with years of experience, you can be sure of buying a bike that is strong enough for a tall heavy rider and also built to last many years.
Bikes for Big Guys
So what are the best mountain bikes for big guys? A custom built bike with big wheels and cranks is probably the best option, but not all budgets will suit. If price is an issue, look for a 21” or 23” frame in the brand of your choice and either a 29er model with long cranks, or upgrade a standard 26” wheel bike with bigger stronger wheels and relevant parts like seat posts and stems for a perfect fit, looking for bargains on eBay to save money.
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Also of interest may be
- 29er Mountain Bikes have Bigger Wheels but is Bigger Better?
- Single Speed 29er Mountain Bikes
- How to Choose a Replacement Bicycle Wheel
- Big Mountain Bikes for Tall Heavy Men
- Plus Size BIke Shorts XXL Padded with Liner for Tall Heavy Men
Helen Smeaton - Helen Smeaton runs a cycling and hiking business and is also a freelance writer and web designer. Read her profile for more information
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